Project description
Graphene derivatives could be the key to superior supercapacitors
Capacitors and batteries store energy and release it as needed, supporting our transition from fossil fuels to intermittent renewable energy. As the global energy demand continues to increase, these devices will help us power the explosion of portable devices and sensors at the edge of the internet. Supercapacitors are superior to batteries in many ways but, although they store more energy than conventional capacitors, they lose the race by a wide margin when it comes to batteries. The EU-funded UP2DCHEM project will upscale the manufacture of a novel graphene derivative for supercapacitor electrodes that could change all that, putting these smaller and more robust storage devices in a leading position.
Objective
The world population is significantly increasing and its reliance on energy-based devices is higher than ever before. This leads to a continuous rise in global energy consumption. Considering that fossil fuel resources are strictly limited and have a detrimental effect on our environment, it is understandable that research focused on sustainable energy resources, coupled with suitable energy storage technologies, attracts an intense interest. In addition, the ever-growing number of electric bikes and cars, portable devices and sensors requires quickly rechargeable, long-life cycle and safe power supply. Supercapacitors belong to the group of energy storage devices that display significant advantages over batteries or fuel cells, such as high-power density, extralong cycle life, and a small size. They can store more energy than conventional capacitors; however, the energy they can store is approximately one order of magnitude lower than that of batteries.
The preliminary data show that chemistry of fluorographene, which has been developed in the framework of ERC project 2DCHEM, can lead to efficient synthesis of graphene derivatives having properties suitable for supercapacitor electrode materials.
This project aims to deliver the upscaling of an industrially-relevant one-chemical-step novel manufacturing process, based on chemistry of fluorographene, resulting in a supercapacitor electrode material. The as prepared novel covalent graphene derivative enables a significant boost in the gravimetric/volumetric energy density, without sacrificing the rate performance, i.e. power. A significant business opportunity will arise through implementing novel and cost-effective materials and processes.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineering
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialstwo-dimensional nanostructuresgraphene
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum PilotHost institution
771 47 Olomouc
Czechia